Family Focused Treatment for Patients with Bipolar Disorder in Turkey: A Case Series

Ozerdem A., Oguz M., Miklowitz D., CİMİLLİ H. C.

FAMILY PROCESS, vol.48, no.3, pp.417-428, 2009 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 48 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01292.x
  • Journal Name: FAMILY PROCESS
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.417-428
  • Keywords: Bipolar Disorder, Expressed Emotion, Family-Focused Therapy, Psychoeducation, Psychosocial Intervention, Cultural Adaptation, TREATMENT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, LONGITUDINAL FOLLOW-UP, PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENTS, EXPRESSED EMOTION, CULTURAL-ADAPTATION, DEPRESSION, VALIDITY, TRIAL, PHARMACOTHERAPY, PREDICTORS
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Family-focused therapy (FFT) is a 9-month, 21-session structured psychoeducational treatment for bipolar disorder. Several US-based studies have documented its efficacy as adjunctive to medication for depression stabilization and relapse prevention. However, FFT has never been applied outside of the United States. The objective of this case series is to explore the applicability of FFT in a non-Western culture. Ten patients with bipolar disorder and their family members attended the 9-month FFT as adjunctive to pharmacotherapy in an outpatient specialty clinic in Izmir, Turkey. Patients improved in Global Assessment of Functioning Scores and Clinical Global Impression Scores from pre- to posttreatment. Case studies are given, which illustrate the differences between Western and non-Western families coping with bipolar disorder. FFT was easily applied to a Turkish sample with few changes in format or focus. Adaptations included substitution of oral for written therapeutic tasks or homework assignments. Randomized controlled trials are needed to test the clinical effectiveness of FFT and other psychosocial interventions in non-Western cultures.